Cimarron Strip (1967–1968): Season 1, Episode 22 - Without Honor - full transcript
Crown tries to help Major Covington capture his son, an expert with dynamite, who has deserted the army and joined a band of murderous marauders.
(train bell clanging)
(engine chugging)
(brakes screeching)
Soldier...
Mason!
You hold it right there!
Where do I find the
livery stable, Marshal?
- Right down the street.
- Thanks.
Wayfarer's Inn.
- How's the food there?
- Best in the town.
Orders are to pick up horses at
the stable and ride to the fort, Mason.
You'll be fed when we get there.
I'm hungry now.
I'm warning you, Mason.
Ah, let it go, Max.
It's not gonna hurt anything
if we lunch here in town.
If he doesn't watch his step,
he'll pull troop punishment
for a solid month.
Ah, come on.
Jim: Hey, soldier!
That train goes all the
way to Albuquerque,
Flagstaff and then
the West Coast.
Why, Marshal, the way you talk.
A man'd think you want me
to get right back on that train.
How was Leavenworth, Bardeen?
A laugh a minute.
Well, this is no joking matter.
I don't want you in
Cimarron or on the strip.
You run he whole works, huh?
Yeah, I do.
All right, Marshal, I'll get
out of your stinking town
as soon as I buy
a gun and a horse.
I hear Deeker's
in the territory.
- You got any messages for him?
- Yeah, I do.
You tell him to get out.
And if he's planning to
set up shop in the outlet,
the army will be
down his throat.
And if he moves
onto the strip, I will.
- Is that all?
- No.
Tell him that I don't
wanna have to kill him.
Oh, that's nice.
I got no such
feelings towards you.
I'd shoot you down just as fast
as I would any other mad dog.
Mac, have you seen my...
Thank you.
I say something's
wrong with him.
I think he's sick.
Not as sick as he's gonna
be if he don't shape up.
Whenever you're ready, Mason.
Why don't you let
him finish his lunch?
He's had more than enough time.
Mason, I don't think
you're listening to me.
♪♪
(sounds of fighting continue)
You're a noisy bunch.
Now listen soldier,
what's the idea?
(chuckling)
Now, you all right, Mac?
Aye, it's only my head.
Well, don't worry about him.
I just touched him a light one.
What's the matter
with him, anyway?
I don't know, Marshal.
He said it was Cimarron.
That doesn't make any sense.
We never been here before.
Yeah...
Mac, you better
throw him in a cell.
I'll get him a room ready.
Looks to me like his
jaw's busted, Marshal.
Yeah, I seen
better-looking noses.
Come on, I'll help you
get him over to the doc's.
Right down there.
(gun cocking)
(gun clicking)
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Come with me, boys.
Mac: Armed robbery, arson,
looting, murder and mayhem.
Did you say you were
in the army with him?
I scouted for him
during one campaign.
He wasn't a bad soldier
as long as there were
enough Indians around to kill.
Worked himself up to captain
before they threw him out.
What for?
The things he learned
from Quantrill and his raiders
on the Kansas border.
I hear now he's got a sign
out for all army deserters.
What?
You mean he recruits them?
Well, that's what I hear.
There's not a soldier around
that hasn't heard of him.
Nor a field commander who
wouldn't enjoy hanging him personally.
(banging on door)
Well, good evening, men.
Hello Jim, Hello Mac.
How's your man?
He'll make it fine,
thanks to you.
I've got another one for
you, as you well know.
(keys jangling)
Should've sent me
bill for the damages.
He's already offered
to take care of it.
He's all yours, major.
Mason, I'm Major Covington.
You may stand at ease.
I've been to see
Corporal Boland.
He's going to be all right.
I'm willing to listen to your...
version of the fight
if you care to tell me.
Aren't you gonna
say anything at all?
No, sir.
Mason, you've been in
the army for quite a while.
You know that what you've
done is a court martial offense.
Sergeant, take him back to the
fort and place him under guard.
Jim: He doesn't sound
like a hard kid, does he?
Major: Not much.
Jim: Has he ever
been in trouble before?
Major: No, not until he found out
he was going to be shipped here.
- From where?
- Willets Point, New York.
All three are engineers.
Demolition men.
- Dynamiters.
- Hmm.
Sent here on some sort
of a road building project.
Ben, do you remember a hard
case by the name of Bardeen?
Court-martialed at Fort Riley.
Away in prison someplace,
you put him there.
He's not there any longer.
I saw him this
morning, got off a train.
Bought himself a gun and a
horse and rode off into the outlet.
To join Deeker?
More than likely... They
used to run together.
And nobody goes off
into that outlet for fun.
They could give you
and me a lot of trouble
knocking over banks,
robbing stages, trains.
Come on, now, Jim, you know I
can't use the troops as a posse.
Ben, they're
deserters, turncoats,
living on government land.
If you can't use 'em now,
when can you use 'em?
See you later, Jim.
If you need a witness, why
you know where you can find me.
I'll let you know.
Goodnight, Jim.
♪♪
Open the door, trooper.
(door bolt clanking)
I want this to be a
private conversation.
Go out and have a smoke... I'll
let you know when I'm finished.
Major... I'm gonna
have to bolt the door, sir.
(locking door)
Rest.
Your service record
arrived from Fort Belvoir.
Date and place of birth.
Your mother's maiden name.
Not much doubt
about it, is there?
No, sir!
How is your mother?
Dead.
I'm sorry.
How long ago?
You mean it makes
a difference to you?
Of course it does.
Five years ago.
That would've been about the
time you enlisted in the army.
It makes sense.
What's that supposed to mean?
Your mother hated the army.
She never wanted you to
join up while she was still alive.
She left me about...
two months after we were
posted at Fort Wingate.
It was bad country.
Dust and snow, snakes, Indians.
I can understand why
it was too much for her.
Soon as I could
get a leave, I...
went south looking
for the two of you.
Couldn't find you.
You were less than a year
old when I saw you last.
- You just about through, major?
- Listen to me.
If your mother hated me, it's
because I was army, that's all.
That is not all.
You're a liar.
♪♪
I've decided against
having you court-martialed.
It doesn't seem to be indicated
considering the circumstances.
I don't want any
help from you, Major.
Whatever I got
coming, I'll take it.
You get no preferential
treatment from me.
You'll be treated the same as
any other soldier with your problem.
I got no problem!
Not at all.
Except that you were
taught to hate your father
from the time you could talk
by an embittered woman who...
Look, I just don't want you to
blame anything I did on my mother.
And I want you to stay outta...
Stay out of this, you hear?
I want you to
stay out of my life.
Major!
You call me, sir?
(door closing)
guard: Hi, boss.
Might early, ain't ya?
Seymour: No place else to go.
Guard: Pretty cold,
could've stayed in bed.
Seymour: People die out there.
- Get out of here.
- Guard: All right.
- Hey, Seymour?
- Yeah?
Mason: You just come back on?
- Seymour: Right.
- Must be about 4:00, huh?
Second shift, yeah.
- Hey, Mason?
- Yeah.
Sounded like you were really
telling the old man off this afternoon.
You know him from
someplace before?
No.
Tell me something.
Always get this
cold here at night?
Seymour: This ain't cold.
I haven't been warm
since set foot in here.
Seymour: It gets
a whole lot worse.
That's good news... I don't
suppose you'd give me blanket?
Seymour: Take one
off the other beds.
I did, here's but one extra.
Seymour: Well, I guess
it can be arranged.
Might smell kind
of horsey, though.
Come out of the stable.
I don't mind.
I'd be much obliged.
♪♪
(door unlocking)
Seymour?
I'm much obliged.
♪♪
That telegraph
meets his description.
From every lawman on the strip.
Thanks.
Just as soon, they didn't try
to bring them in themselves.
Just let me know if
anybody spots him.
Thanks, again.
Well, what do you wanna
do, bring him in on your own?
That might be the best way.
You saw him in action.
I think he's trouble
enough to be dangerous.
I don't want anybody to be hurt.
Including him?
That's right.
You had deserters before, Ben.
What's so special about him?
He's my son.
♪♪
Uh...
I'd like a whiskey and a beer.
- I said, I'd like a whiskey and...
- Yeah, yeah, yeah...
You make all these little boats?
Yeah.
Bet you used to be a sailor.
Never.
Here's to your health.
And you.
You a soldier?
Used to be.
I hear tell you can find
a man named Deeker...
George Deeker?
You heard wrong.
No, I heard right.
I got nothing but time.
So I'll wait.
Not here you won't.
Now, you look like
a deserter to me.
And a deserter's maybe
the last thing I need.
You a pretty good
shot with that?
Don't have to be.
- Not from here.
- Yes, you do.
Dynamite.
Here ho.
Enough to blow you and
me and all those little boats
all the way to the gulf.
No.
I think, uh, maybe I
can get a message
to somebody who
knows, the, uh...
the man you mentioned.
Good.
Yeah.
♪♪
You're one of them soldier boys
got off the train at
Cimarron a couple days ago.
That's right.
And now you're a deserter.
That's right.
What do you want with Deeker?
- You him?
- (man laughing)
What's your name?
Mason, William Mason.
Cully.
This here's Bardeen.
If he seems unfriendly,
that's because he is.
You really got
dynamite in there?
That's right.
What for?
It's my specialty.
I figured to give Mr. Deeker
a little demonstration.
♪♪
Clear.
(laughing)
Wonderful.
You never spilled a drop.
But you made enough
noise to wake the dead.
(laughing)
How'd you do it, boy?
It's a matter of placement.
I used, uh, three sticks
but they weren't confined.
Now I'll show you
what three sticks can do
when placed differently.
I don't know, George.
You don't know, what?
Told me he's been in
the army for five years.
Ah, a guy quits when
he's ready to quit.
Being in jail's made you a
mighty suspicious fellow, Lane.
Yeah, yes, it has.
Many a poor slob in Leavenworth
been put there by army spies.
Oh, this kid ain't no
spy, I'll guarantee it.
And if he is, he's not gonna go
any place we don't take him to.
♪♪
Clear.
(loud explosion)
Guess you got
some bad sticks, huh?
Well, let's take a look.
Hey... (chuckling)
So the army taught you
how to handle that stuff?
That's right.
Now if I had a detonator,
I could show you
some more tricks.
I'll get you a detonator.
I'd say this is the beginning of a
long and profitable relationship.
You got a deal.
Yes, sir.
And forget that "sir" stuff.
This ain't the army, you
know, call me Captain.
(rooster crowing)
♪♪
Everything ready?
Anytime, Captain.
How about now?
(sizzling)
(explosion)
Hyah!
Got a visitor, George.
(train bell clanging)
So much for the company's
new burglar-proof mail car.
Rolled steel
doors an inch thick.
And some smart
outlaw blows the roof off.
If you ask me, Marshal,
they're gonna have to hire
someone to ride shotgun,
just like the stage lines.
How did this car get separated
from the rest of the train?
It was on the siding.
Dropped of the local
3:00 this morning.
This car shuttled between
here and Hays City, Kansas.
And you'd leave a mail
car down here unprotected.
Now look, Marshal,
you got no call
to tell the department
how to do its job.
Well, somebody has to.
And you're lucky this
whole depot wasn't blown up.
Hey, Jim, you think it
might be that same bunch?
You know that bunch that took
that Wells Fargo safe from Hardesty.
Yeah, I do think it
was the same bunch.
And the same bunch
also that blew open
that freight office
in James Well.
And killed that old man.
What do you men think?
Nobody could've
guessed at this thing.
He knew what he was doing.
Could it have been Mason?
I think it was, sir.
What about you?
I think that it's possible, sir.
Probable?
Yes, sir.
A controlled
explosion like that, uh...
Bill could handle
that just fine.
All right, that'll be all.
Yes, sir.
I don't think Mason
did it on his own.
He's riding with
Deeker, I'm sure of it.
You're probably right.
Well, you know I am, Ben.
And he's gonna be hard to find.
But you and your
troopers better start looking.
If you don't, I will.
♪♪
♪♪
Just what I thought.
Dulcey, you've
never looked lovelier.
Unless I'm very much mistaken,
you're looking at
my bread, not at me.
Well, you know what they say.
Handsome is as handsome does.
And nobody can make
bread the way you can.
Oh, you just carry on like
a little boy over fresh bread.
Well, now you know my secret.
Yeah, there's
nothing I wouldn't do
for somebody who can
make bread like this.
Nothing.
- Nothing?
- That's right.
- You sure?
- Sure, I'm sure.
All right, I'd like an answer
to a couple of questions then.
Um-hmm.
If I can, I will.
Why were you never married?
Well, now, that's a
personal question, isn't it?
Yes, are you gonna answer it?
Hm-hmm.
Well, I suppose it's all the
running 'round I been doing...
on my job.
I don't think there's a wife
around that would put up with that.
- Well, the right one would.
- Maybe.
What kind of a girl are
you looking for, anyway?
I'm not looking.
And if I was, it
wouldn't be a girl...
it'd be a woman.
(banging on door)
Who is it?
Ben Covington.
Well, hello, Ben...
No, I didn't resign
or get thrown out.
- I'd like to talk to you.
- Well, sure, come on in.
Sit down, Ben.
Jim, I think I know
where to look for Deeker.
I want you to come
along with me.
You think that you
and I can do a better job
- than the troop at Cameron.
- This job, yeah.
Ben, your boy is a deserter.
Now what makes you
think he's gonna wanna...
He's AWOL.
I can make that charge stick if
I bring him back soon enough.
You're gonna have to hunt
down the whole Deeker gang.
Not just one member.
I know that and I'm going to.
But later.
Right... As soon I
get Bill out of there.
If you don't wanna come
along with me, I'll go alone.
Well, that wouldn't
be very smart, Ben.
No, it wouldn't.
Be even less smart if
you came along with me.
That's a fact.
If the grapevine gets
wind of my badge...
We wouldn't be
able to find anyone.
Right, that's why
I'm wearing these.
You're not gonna be able
to sit straight up in the saddle
like you usually do.
- I'll remember that.
- I'm gonna remind you.
♪♪
(crickets chirping)
You're a pretty good cook.
It's not easy.
Takes a whole lot of talent
to open up a can of beans.
How's the coffee?
Fine.
Fine, Jim, just fine.
Mmm... it is good, isn't it?
Nothing wrong with it, huh?
Oh, no, 'course not.
It's just a little stronger
than I'm used to, that's all.
Well, I don't understand it.
I been making coffee the
same way for 20 years now.
And nobody can drink it but me.
What do you think that means?
I been...
trying to think of some way to tell
you how much I appreciate your help.
Oh, that's all right, Ben.
You'd do the same thing for
me if I had a boy in trouble.
I haven't seen him
since he was that big.
I don't really know him.
The most important
thing for me right now
is to get him away from Deeker.
Yeah, we'll locate Deeker
one way or the other.
You can be sure of that.
And maybe then we'll find a
way to get your boy out of there.
Even if he doesn't
wanna come along.
Yeah, I've thought about that.
I don't have an answer.
I didn't ask any question.
We'll get him... Don't
you worry about that.
Even if we have to drag him.
♪♪
(loud mooing)
Yeah, they're
rustlers all right.
They're using a running iron.
I think we ought
to pay them a visit.
You think they're Deeker's men?
No, I don't think so.
But they might know
where to find him.
Could save us some time.
We better have a good
reason for wanting to see him.
We do.
We wanna join up with him.
Well, you look ugly
enough to get by.
I'm not so sure about myself.
Oh, you do, believe me.
(chuckling)
Jim: Howdy, boys.
It's too nice a day to be
working so hard, isn't it?
No, I don't want any trouble.
I coulda given you plenty of it.
We been watching
you for half-hour.
We'd just like to use your fire
there and brew up some coffee.
What do you say?
Well, now, it's close
enough to suppertime
to call it a day anyway.
Why don't you two join us?
I'm Brown.
This is Ben White.
I'm Smith, Jack Smith.
My brother Joe and that's Jones.
Pleased to meet you.
Any of that meat for eating?
- Maybe.
- Good.
Nothing tastes better
than rustled beef.
Yeah, right.
Jim: I was pinned
in by the invisible,
and I couldn't go
one way or the other.
All of a sudden, two arrows
come screaming at me.
And they just missed
my head by a half-inch.
Now I knew the next two
arrows weren't gonna miss.
But for the life of me, I
couldn't spot an Indian,
much less two.
All of a sudden, here
comes George Deeker.
Comes flying and
flipping on his back,
whipping out his
.44 and whop-whop!
Two Apaches drop
30 feet straight down.
I tell you, that boy's got
a pair of eyes like a hawk.
And I bet he still does.
That's why old Ben and me,
we'd like to hook up with him.
We hear he's got
a new outfit starting,
- somewhere around this territory.
- (coughing)
- Wow!
- What's a matter, boy?
That go down the wrong pipe?
Nothing wrong with that coffee.
Heh, it'll grow hair on
your chest, right, Ben?
(chuckling) I know
how you feel, boy.
That's one of the reasons I'm
looking to join up with this Deeker
so I don't have to drink
any more of his coffee.
We, uh, got this working
arrangement with Deeker.
He don't bother us
and we don't bother him.
Now look, you don't
have to tell us where he is.
Ben and me, we're gonna
find him one way or the other.
Might just take a little
bit longer, that's all.
(laughing)
He needs men all right.
That fella, Bardeen, told us
that when he tried to recruit us.
I don't see the harm to it.
I can't tell you exactly
where he's hideout is
but I can put your pretty close.
This here's the
ridge just south of us.
On the other side is a medium-sized
stream that comes right in here.
Now you follow that
down about three miles.
(gun cocking)
No need to go any further.
They're never gonna get there.
You said you needed more men.
Oh, I do, sure.
I do...
and these are
real good men, too.
Why this one here, he's the
Marshal of the whole Cimarron Strip.
(guns cocking)
And him... turn around!
Turn around!
Why, that's Major
Covington, I do believe.
You're out of uniform, major.
Get some rope.
Bardeen, what are you gonna do?
Oh, I'm just gonna hang
a couple of rustlers is all.
Leave that running iron of yours
and that steer you butchered.
Nice, huh?
Ranchers around
here will appreciate it.
Imagine, Marshal and
the major turned rustler.
♪♪
♪♪
Come on, come on, hook him up.
I can't.
I don't want nothing
to do with a hanging.
You do it.
You're making a
mistake, Bardeen.
(gunshots)
- Ahh!
- Grab him!
I think maybe I winged him.
- You all right, Ben?
- Yes, I'm all right.
Look after the kid.
(moaning)
(panting)
Some pain for you to do this.
Just lie still.
Sorry.
They're both dead.
Bardeen?
Marshal's gone after him.
He shot me.
I know he did.
Shh.
It's not important.
Are you really a Major
and him a Marshal?
Yes.
Maybe I can get that bullet
out if I can just stop the bleeding.
I'm gonna die, Major.
Maybe not.
Are you still going
after Deeker?
You and the Marshal?
Just the two of you?
See, it's not really Deeker.
I have a son who's
joined up with him.
I wanna get him out of there
before he gets himself killed.
He's not much older than you.
Oh!
That Bardeen's gonna
be a lot of trouble.
How is he?
You know that map
Jack was starting to draw
with the stream and all?
- Yeah.
If you follow that stream
three, maybe four mile west.
Rough country but it'll
take you to Deeker's camp.
I hope you find him...
your son.
♪♪
♪♪
Well... morning, Lane.
What you been
doing, riding all night?
Is he inside?
As far as I know.
Does he ever et
remotely pleasant?
Only at disasters.
You think that'll get it?
Yeah, I think
they should get it.
Did you learn all
this in the army, Bill?
Yeah.
Be careful with
this, like I said.
Yeah, yeah.
How long were you in for?
Five years.
Must've been something
about it you liked.
How long you been
with the Captain?
Hmm... 'bout three year now.
You ever get into town much?
I mean, just to go, not
for no job or anything.
Well, we used to go some
but not for quite a while now.
Captain says it's too dangerous.
Anybody ever up and quit?
First few weeks, I got
kind of nervous, too.
But you'll get used to it.
Don't even talk about quitting.
Don't even think it.
I'm telling you as a friend.
You're a good man.
Crown'd have more sense than
to come after me or even you
with just him and another man.
- Think they might've trailed you?
- No, not a chance.
If it was anybody but Crown,
he couldn't get close to
us without being spotted.
Give these to the guard.
How are things coming with
the gentle art of safe cracking?
Well know right now, Captain.
Clear.
(loud explosion)
The door ain't even open.
I don't know what happened.
You're telling me
you can't do it?
No, I'll be able to
do it, I'm just saying...
I'll give it another try.
Just get it open.
♪♪
Bardeen's alerted 'em.
Means we wait until dark.
Yeah, it could be
a long night, then.
Bill: Clear.
♪♪
That's more like it, Mason.
Will you look at that?
It's a hard-boiled egg, and
apple and a ham sandwich.
Looks like we stole
somebody's lunch.
You think it's
funny, huh, Mason?
We risk our lives and break
our backs to get this thing up here
and you think because
it's empty, it's funny, huh?
Well, yes, sir, a little.
Well, after you've
been with me for a while,
you'll find less to laugh about.
This ain't a game we're playing.
♪♪
♪♪
Ah!
Ah!
Can you move it?
I... I don't think it's broken.
No, it's no use.
Well, do you think you can
make it back to the horses?
Yeah, here, I can make it.
Okay, now if we're
not back in an hour,
you gotta ride in for some help.
Good luck.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
It's only me.
I'm gonna take you
back up that mountain.
Are you gonna go peacefully?
All right.
Slow and easy.
♪♪
Bardeen, Cully!
♪♪
(gunfire)
Hold it, hold it!
Anyone else missing?
No, just Mason.
Who's the man with him?
I don't know,
George, it looked like...
the Marshal to me.
- Told you that kid was probably...
- Never mind what you told me.
They'll be heading
back to Cimarron.
Get the horses.
♪♪
You all right?
So far, so good...
How about you?
Rotten.
Look after him, see
what you can do.
I'm gonna go get the horses.
Swollen pretty bad.
Make it tight.
They spotted you, huh?
I kicked a rock loose.
I'm glad to be out of there.
I appreciate you and the
Marshal helping me, sir.
Bill, I can fix it so you're
not charged with desertion.
Just A-W-O-L.
That's if you
return voluntarily.
But you'll still have to pay for
all the civil crimes you committed.
I expect to, sir.
It's better than being dead.
That's what you'd be if
you'd stayed with Deeker.
Coming back here and cleaning
him and his gang out of here.
Come on, Ben, we
got a lot of riding to do.
♪♪
(whistling)
(gunshot)
You go on back to the fort.
I'm gonna look for him.
Get Captain Bragg out
here with his troopers.
♪♪
(whistling)
(distant whistling)
Ben!
Have you been hit?
No, they got my
horse... Where's Bill?
He went for help.
I'm gonna go find him.
I want that Deeker
and I want him bad.
If I can nail him, maybe
the rest of them will quit.
Here goes nothin'.
(crickets chirping)
George?
(gunshots)
George!
♪♪
Hey, Crown!
Come out in the open or the
Major gets a hole in his head!
On your feet.
Bardeen: Hey, Crown, look here!
(whistling)
♪♪
That'll do nicely.
Drop your gun
right where you are.
(gun thudding)
It's been a lot of
years, hasn't it, Jim?
You've been lucky.
Let me have him, George.
(horse approaching)
He got away, Captain.
Deeker, come morning...
the army will be
well on its way.
Save yourself a lot of trouble
by turning us loose now.
Maybe.
Maybe the army's coming.
Yeah, the army's
coming, Mason'll bring 'em.
When they get here, all they're
gonna find is a couple corpses
because we're
gonna be long gone.
Wait a minute,
Lane, wait a minute.
Just because Jim here says the
army's coming don't make it so.
What about Mason,
he ran, didn't he?
Sure, he did.
And so would I with enough
people shooting at me.
Now if you're right, Jim,
you and the Major here will be a
pretty good piece of trading material.
And if the soldier
boys catch up with us
we'll have something
to bargain with.
Tie 'em up.
♪♪
Ah, cheer up.
Eh... I still think we'd be
better off killing and running.
I'm tired of running.
Personally, I don't think we'll
see the Calvary or anyone else.
And if we don't, he's all yours.
(whistling)
♪♪
Oh, good.
Gettin' on for 9:00, George.
Well, we'll give it a
couple of hours, anyway.
(sniffling)
(whistling)
It's Mason!
(horse galloping)
You missed all the excitement.
Where you been?
Prisoner.
I came as soon
as I could get loose.
You're gonna have to prove that.
Bill: Why isn't my
word good enough?
Bardeen: Not this
time, soldier boy.
Well, all right, I'll prove it.
And then I'm gonna cave
in that ugly face of yours.
I'll make him
apologize if he's wrong.
Well, the Marshal
came 'round to my tent.
He woke me up,
stuck a gun in my ear
and marched me up that cliff...
I don't know who was on guard.
- McCloud.
- Yeah, that's right.
I kicked a stone, I know
somebody heard that
'cause there was
a lot of shooting.
Kidnapped you, huh?
Why?
They said they'd
clear me of desertion
if I could identify all
the men in the outfit.
They know about you
but not about the others.
When I said, "No,"
they tied me up.
Said they'd... beat
it out of me later.
Look here.
You could've made Fort Supply
and been halfway back
here by now if you wanted to.
Yeah.
Yeah, I believe you.
Lane?
All right.
I'm sorry, kid.
Where's my gun,
still in my tent?
Thanks.
(sniffling)
(metal cup clanking)
There's no need to hold anyone
for bargaining anymore, is there?
Well, not anymore.
But I still think they ought
to be worth something.
Gold army braid
and a U.S. Marshal.
(chuckling)
First time I seen
you smile in a month.
(laughing)
Now don't mess it up.
Take 'em a long ways away.
And bury 'em, you hear?
I'll give you a hand, too.
Forget it.
I owe 'em a little something.
Cully!
(door closing)
On your feet, Crown.
I said, "On your feet!"
Ben and me, we
were just getting cozy.
Marshal.
I want out of this place.
I'll help you if I can.
It's your move.
(gun uncocking)
George!
George!
I'm gonna let you
walk out of this shack.
But you tell Deeker
that you're dead
unless he turns us loose.
Turn it over!
George, they're gonna kill
me if you don't let 'em go.
Easy, boys.
George?
(gun cocking)
George?
(gunshot)
Wanna make any
more deals, Crown?
We're gonna settle
down here, boys.
I'd say for about 48 hours.
Just long enough for
'em to get real thirsty.
(gunshot)
(gunfire)
Does it make you
feel like a rat in a trap?
Sitting on all this dynamite.
Mason, why don't you
see what we've got.
- Ben?
- Yeah.
Do you think we can
use this pipe as a mortar?
We can give it a try.
Help me yank these boards off.
Easy, boys, easy!
Just one at a time.
(gunshot)
♪♪
Jim: Are you ready, Ben?
Ben: I'm ready.
We're not gonna have much
time to spread some distance
between him and us.
Okay.
God willing.
See y'all back at
Cimarron for breakfast.
♪♪
(gunfire)
♪♪
♪♪
Bill, you're as
free as a jaybird.
At least as far
as I'm concerned.
How come?
The territorial governor told me
that I can't keep you in jail any longer.
He was so delighted to
get rid of the Deeker gang
that he decided to
give you a pardon.
So Major...
that'll leave him all to you.
How serviceable
is that arm, soldier?
It's just fine for
peeling potatoes, sir.
Sergeant...
30 days company
punishment for this man.
And the charge
on the record will be
absent without official leave.
Thank you very much...
Major.
You're welcome, Bill.
♪♪
You hear that, Jim, what
he almost called me?
Yes, I did.
Give him a little
more time and he will.
♪♪
♪♪
(engine chugging)
(brakes screeching)
Soldier...
Mason!
You hold it right there!
Where do I find the
livery stable, Marshal?
- Right down the street.
- Thanks.
Wayfarer's Inn.
- How's the food there?
- Best in the town.
Orders are to pick up horses at
the stable and ride to the fort, Mason.
You'll be fed when we get there.
I'm hungry now.
I'm warning you, Mason.
Ah, let it go, Max.
It's not gonna hurt anything
if we lunch here in town.
If he doesn't watch his step,
he'll pull troop punishment
for a solid month.
Ah, come on.
Jim: Hey, soldier!
That train goes all the
way to Albuquerque,
Flagstaff and then
the West Coast.
Why, Marshal, the way you talk.
A man'd think you want me
to get right back on that train.
How was Leavenworth, Bardeen?
A laugh a minute.
Well, this is no joking matter.
I don't want you in
Cimarron or on the strip.
You run he whole works, huh?
Yeah, I do.
All right, Marshal, I'll get
out of your stinking town
as soon as I buy
a gun and a horse.
I hear Deeker's
in the territory.
- You got any messages for him?
- Yeah, I do.
You tell him to get out.
And if he's planning to
set up shop in the outlet,
the army will be
down his throat.
And if he moves
onto the strip, I will.
- Is that all?
- No.
Tell him that I don't
wanna have to kill him.
Oh, that's nice.
I got no such
feelings towards you.
I'd shoot you down just as fast
as I would any other mad dog.
Mac, have you seen my...
Thank you.
I say something's
wrong with him.
I think he's sick.
Not as sick as he's gonna
be if he don't shape up.
Whenever you're ready, Mason.
Why don't you let
him finish his lunch?
He's had more than enough time.
Mason, I don't think
you're listening to me.
♪♪
(sounds of fighting continue)
You're a noisy bunch.
Now listen soldier,
what's the idea?
(chuckling)
Now, you all right, Mac?
Aye, it's only my head.
Well, don't worry about him.
I just touched him a light one.
What's the matter
with him, anyway?
I don't know, Marshal.
He said it was Cimarron.
That doesn't make any sense.
We never been here before.
Yeah...
Mac, you better
throw him in a cell.
I'll get him a room ready.
Looks to me like his
jaw's busted, Marshal.
Yeah, I seen
better-looking noses.
Come on, I'll help you
get him over to the doc's.
Right down there.
(gun cocking)
(gun clicking)
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Come with me, boys.
Mac: Armed robbery, arson,
looting, murder and mayhem.
Did you say you were
in the army with him?
I scouted for him
during one campaign.
He wasn't a bad soldier
as long as there were
enough Indians around to kill.
Worked himself up to captain
before they threw him out.
What for?
The things he learned
from Quantrill and his raiders
on the Kansas border.
I hear now he's got a sign
out for all army deserters.
What?
You mean he recruits them?
Well, that's what I hear.
There's not a soldier around
that hasn't heard of him.
Nor a field commander who
wouldn't enjoy hanging him personally.
(banging on door)
Well, good evening, men.
Hello Jim, Hello Mac.
How's your man?
He'll make it fine,
thanks to you.
I've got another one for
you, as you well know.
(keys jangling)
Should've sent me
bill for the damages.
He's already offered
to take care of it.
He's all yours, major.
Mason, I'm Major Covington.
You may stand at ease.
I've been to see
Corporal Boland.
He's going to be all right.
I'm willing to listen to your...
version of the fight
if you care to tell me.
Aren't you gonna
say anything at all?
No, sir.
Mason, you've been in
the army for quite a while.
You know that what you've
done is a court martial offense.
Sergeant, take him back to the
fort and place him under guard.
Jim: He doesn't sound
like a hard kid, does he?
Major: Not much.
Jim: Has he ever
been in trouble before?
Major: No, not until he found out
he was going to be shipped here.
- From where?
- Willets Point, New York.
All three are engineers.
Demolition men.
- Dynamiters.
- Hmm.
Sent here on some sort
of a road building project.
Ben, do you remember a hard
case by the name of Bardeen?
Court-martialed at Fort Riley.
Away in prison someplace,
you put him there.
He's not there any longer.
I saw him this
morning, got off a train.
Bought himself a gun and a
horse and rode off into the outlet.
To join Deeker?
More than likely... They
used to run together.
And nobody goes off
into that outlet for fun.
They could give you
and me a lot of trouble
knocking over banks,
robbing stages, trains.
Come on, now, Jim, you know I
can't use the troops as a posse.
Ben, they're
deserters, turncoats,
living on government land.
If you can't use 'em now,
when can you use 'em?
See you later, Jim.
If you need a witness, why
you know where you can find me.
I'll let you know.
Goodnight, Jim.
♪♪
Open the door, trooper.
(door bolt clanking)
I want this to be a
private conversation.
Go out and have a smoke... I'll
let you know when I'm finished.
Major... I'm gonna
have to bolt the door, sir.
(locking door)
Rest.
Your service record
arrived from Fort Belvoir.
Date and place of birth.
Your mother's maiden name.
Not much doubt
about it, is there?
No, sir!
How is your mother?
Dead.
I'm sorry.
How long ago?
You mean it makes
a difference to you?
Of course it does.
Five years ago.
That would've been about the
time you enlisted in the army.
It makes sense.
What's that supposed to mean?
Your mother hated the army.
She never wanted you to
join up while she was still alive.
She left me about...
two months after we were
posted at Fort Wingate.
It was bad country.
Dust and snow, snakes, Indians.
I can understand why
it was too much for her.
Soon as I could
get a leave, I...
went south looking
for the two of you.
Couldn't find you.
You were less than a year
old when I saw you last.
- You just about through, major?
- Listen to me.
If your mother hated me, it's
because I was army, that's all.
That is not all.
You're a liar.
♪♪
I've decided against
having you court-martialed.
It doesn't seem to be indicated
considering the circumstances.
I don't want any
help from you, Major.
Whatever I got
coming, I'll take it.
You get no preferential
treatment from me.
You'll be treated the same as
any other soldier with your problem.
I got no problem!
Not at all.
Except that you were
taught to hate your father
from the time you could talk
by an embittered woman who...
Look, I just don't want you to
blame anything I did on my mother.
And I want you to stay outta...
Stay out of this, you hear?
I want you to
stay out of my life.
Major!
You call me, sir?
(door closing)
guard: Hi, boss.
Might early, ain't ya?
Seymour: No place else to go.
Guard: Pretty cold,
could've stayed in bed.
Seymour: People die out there.
- Get out of here.
- Guard: All right.
- Hey, Seymour?
- Yeah?
Mason: You just come back on?
- Seymour: Right.
- Must be about 4:00, huh?
Second shift, yeah.
- Hey, Mason?
- Yeah.
Sounded like you were really
telling the old man off this afternoon.
You know him from
someplace before?
No.
Tell me something.
Always get this
cold here at night?
Seymour: This ain't cold.
I haven't been warm
since set foot in here.
Seymour: It gets
a whole lot worse.
That's good news... I don't
suppose you'd give me blanket?
Seymour: Take one
off the other beds.
I did, here's but one extra.
Seymour: Well, I guess
it can be arranged.
Might smell kind
of horsey, though.
Come out of the stable.
I don't mind.
I'd be much obliged.
♪♪
(door unlocking)
Seymour?
I'm much obliged.
♪♪
That telegraph
meets his description.
From every lawman on the strip.
Thanks.
Just as soon, they didn't try
to bring them in themselves.
Just let me know if
anybody spots him.
Thanks, again.
Well, what do you wanna
do, bring him in on your own?
That might be the best way.
You saw him in action.
I think he's trouble
enough to be dangerous.
I don't want anybody to be hurt.
Including him?
That's right.
You had deserters before, Ben.
What's so special about him?
He's my son.
♪♪
Uh...
I'd like a whiskey and a beer.
- I said, I'd like a whiskey and...
- Yeah, yeah, yeah...
You make all these little boats?
Yeah.
Bet you used to be a sailor.
Never.
Here's to your health.
And you.
You a soldier?
Used to be.
I hear tell you can find
a man named Deeker...
George Deeker?
You heard wrong.
No, I heard right.
I got nothing but time.
So I'll wait.
Not here you won't.
Now, you look like
a deserter to me.
And a deserter's maybe
the last thing I need.
You a pretty good
shot with that?
Don't have to be.
- Not from here.
- Yes, you do.
Dynamite.
Here ho.
Enough to blow you and
me and all those little boats
all the way to the gulf.
No.
I think, uh, maybe I
can get a message
to somebody who
knows, the, uh...
the man you mentioned.
Good.
Yeah.
♪♪
You're one of them soldier boys
got off the train at
Cimarron a couple days ago.
That's right.
And now you're a deserter.
That's right.
What do you want with Deeker?
- You him?
- (man laughing)
What's your name?
Mason, William Mason.
Cully.
This here's Bardeen.
If he seems unfriendly,
that's because he is.
You really got
dynamite in there?
That's right.
What for?
It's my specialty.
I figured to give Mr. Deeker
a little demonstration.
♪♪
Clear.
(laughing)
Wonderful.
You never spilled a drop.
But you made enough
noise to wake the dead.
(laughing)
How'd you do it, boy?
It's a matter of placement.
I used, uh, three sticks
but they weren't confined.
Now I'll show you
what three sticks can do
when placed differently.
I don't know, George.
You don't know, what?
Told me he's been in
the army for five years.
Ah, a guy quits when
he's ready to quit.
Being in jail's made you a
mighty suspicious fellow, Lane.
Yeah, yes, it has.
Many a poor slob in Leavenworth
been put there by army spies.
Oh, this kid ain't no
spy, I'll guarantee it.
And if he is, he's not gonna go
any place we don't take him to.
♪♪
Clear.
(loud explosion)
Guess you got
some bad sticks, huh?
Well, let's take a look.
Hey... (chuckling)
So the army taught you
how to handle that stuff?
That's right.
Now if I had a detonator,
I could show you
some more tricks.
I'll get you a detonator.
I'd say this is the beginning of a
long and profitable relationship.
You got a deal.
Yes, sir.
And forget that "sir" stuff.
This ain't the army, you
know, call me Captain.
(rooster crowing)
♪♪
Everything ready?
Anytime, Captain.
How about now?
(sizzling)
(explosion)
Hyah!
Got a visitor, George.
(train bell clanging)
So much for the company's
new burglar-proof mail car.
Rolled steel
doors an inch thick.
And some smart
outlaw blows the roof off.
If you ask me, Marshal,
they're gonna have to hire
someone to ride shotgun,
just like the stage lines.
How did this car get separated
from the rest of the train?
It was on the siding.
Dropped of the local
3:00 this morning.
This car shuttled between
here and Hays City, Kansas.
And you'd leave a mail
car down here unprotected.
Now look, Marshal,
you got no call
to tell the department
how to do its job.
Well, somebody has to.
And you're lucky this
whole depot wasn't blown up.
Hey, Jim, you think it
might be that same bunch?
You know that bunch that took
that Wells Fargo safe from Hardesty.
Yeah, I do think it
was the same bunch.
And the same bunch
also that blew open
that freight office
in James Well.
And killed that old man.
What do you men think?
Nobody could've
guessed at this thing.
He knew what he was doing.
Could it have been Mason?
I think it was, sir.
What about you?
I think that it's possible, sir.
Probable?
Yes, sir.
A controlled
explosion like that, uh...
Bill could handle
that just fine.
All right, that'll be all.
Yes, sir.
I don't think Mason
did it on his own.
He's riding with
Deeker, I'm sure of it.
You're probably right.
Well, you know I am, Ben.
And he's gonna be hard to find.
But you and your
troopers better start looking.
If you don't, I will.
♪♪
♪♪
Just what I thought.
Dulcey, you've
never looked lovelier.
Unless I'm very much mistaken,
you're looking at
my bread, not at me.
Well, you know what they say.
Handsome is as handsome does.
And nobody can make
bread the way you can.
Oh, you just carry on like
a little boy over fresh bread.
Well, now you know my secret.
Yeah, there's
nothing I wouldn't do
for somebody who can
make bread like this.
Nothing.
- Nothing?
- That's right.
- You sure?
- Sure, I'm sure.
All right, I'd like an answer
to a couple of questions then.
Um-hmm.
If I can, I will.
Why were you never married?
Well, now, that's a
personal question, isn't it?
Yes, are you gonna answer it?
Hm-hmm.
Well, I suppose it's all the
running 'round I been doing...
on my job.
I don't think there's a wife
around that would put up with that.
- Well, the right one would.
- Maybe.
What kind of a girl are
you looking for, anyway?
I'm not looking.
And if I was, it
wouldn't be a girl...
it'd be a woman.
(banging on door)
Who is it?
Ben Covington.
Well, hello, Ben...
No, I didn't resign
or get thrown out.
- I'd like to talk to you.
- Well, sure, come on in.
Sit down, Ben.
Jim, I think I know
where to look for Deeker.
I want you to come
along with me.
You think that you
and I can do a better job
- than the troop at Cameron.
- This job, yeah.
Ben, your boy is a deserter.
Now what makes you
think he's gonna wanna...
He's AWOL.
I can make that charge stick if
I bring him back soon enough.
You're gonna have to hunt
down the whole Deeker gang.
Not just one member.
I know that and I'm going to.
But later.
Right... As soon I
get Bill out of there.
If you don't wanna come
along with me, I'll go alone.
Well, that wouldn't
be very smart, Ben.
No, it wouldn't.
Be even less smart if
you came along with me.
That's a fact.
If the grapevine gets
wind of my badge...
We wouldn't be
able to find anyone.
Right, that's why
I'm wearing these.
You're not gonna be able
to sit straight up in the saddle
like you usually do.
- I'll remember that.
- I'm gonna remind you.
♪♪
(crickets chirping)
You're a pretty good cook.
It's not easy.
Takes a whole lot of talent
to open up a can of beans.
How's the coffee?
Fine.
Fine, Jim, just fine.
Mmm... it is good, isn't it?
Nothing wrong with it, huh?
Oh, no, 'course not.
It's just a little stronger
than I'm used to, that's all.
Well, I don't understand it.
I been making coffee the
same way for 20 years now.
And nobody can drink it but me.
What do you think that means?
I been...
trying to think of some way to tell
you how much I appreciate your help.
Oh, that's all right, Ben.
You'd do the same thing for
me if I had a boy in trouble.
I haven't seen him
since he was that big.
I don't really know him.
The most important
thing for me right now
is to get him away from Deeker.
Yeah, we'll locate Deeker
one way or the other.
You can be sure of that.
And maybe then we'll find a
way to get your boy out of there.
Even if he doesn't
wanna come along.
Yeah, I've thought about that.
I don't have an answer.
I didn't ask any question.
We'll get him... Don't
you worry about that.
Even if we have to drag him.
♪♪
(loud mooing)
Yeah, they're
rustlers all right.
They're using a running iron.
I think we ought
to pay them a visit.
You think they're Deeker's men?
No, I don't think so.
But they might know
where to find him.
Could save us some time.
We better have a good
reason for wanting to see him.
We do.
We wanna join up with him.
Well, you look ugly
enough to get by.
I'm not so sure about myself.
Oh, you do, believe me.
(chuckling)
Jim: Howdy, boys.
It's too nice a day to be
working so hard, isn't it?
No, I don't want any trouble.
I coulda given you plenty of it.
We been watching
you for half-hour.
We'd just like to use your fire
there and brew up some coffee.
What do you say?
Well, now, it's close
enough to suppertime
to call it a day anyway.
Why don't you two join us?
I'm Brown.
This is Ben White.
I'm Smith, Jack Smith.
My brother Joe and that's Jones.
Pleased to meet you.
Any of that meat for eating?
- Maybe.
- Good.
Nothing tastes better
than rustled beef.
Yeah, right.
Jim: I was pinned
in by the invisible,
and I couldn't go
one way or the other.
All of a sudden, two arrows
come screaming at me.
And they just missed
my head by a half-inch.
Now I knew the next two
arrows weren't gonna miss.
But for the life of me, I
couldn't spot an Indian,
much less two.
All of a sudden, here
comes George Deeker.
Comes flying and
flipping on his back,
whipping out his
.44 and whop-whop!
Two Apaches drop
30 feet straight down.
I tell you, that boy's got
a pair of eyes like a hawk.
And I bet he still does.
That's why old Ben and me,
we'd like to hook up with him.
We hear he's got
a new outfit starting,
- somewhere around this territory.
- (coughing)
- Wow!
- What's a matter, boy?
That go down the wrong pipe?
Nothing wrong with that coffee.
Heh, it'll grow hair on
your chest, right, Ben?
(chuckling) I know
how you feel, boy.
That's one of the reasons I'm
looking to join up with this Deeker
so I don't have to drink
any more of his coffee.
We, uh, got this working
arrangement with Deeker.
He don't bother us
and we don't bother him.
Now look, you don't
have to tell us where he is.
Ben and me, we're gonna
find him one way or the other.
Might just take a little
bit longer, that's all.
(laughing)
He needs men all right.
That fella, Bardeen, told us
that when he tried to recruit us.
I don't see the harm to it.
I can't tell you exactly
where he's hideout is
but I can put your pretty close.
This here's the
ridge just south of us.
On the other side is a medium-sized
stream that comes right in here.
Now you follow that
down about three miles.
(gun cocking)
No need to go any further.
They're never gonna get there.
You said you needed more men.
Oh, I do, sure.
I do...
and these are
real good men, too.
Why this one here, he's the
Marshal of the whole Cimarron Strip.
(guns cocking)
And him... turn around!
Turn around!
Why, that's Major
Covington, I do believe.
You're out of uniform, major.
Get some rope.
Bardeen, what are you gonna do?
Oh, I'm just gonna hang
a couple of rustlers is all.
Leave that running iron of yours
and that steer you butchered.
Nice, huh?
Ranchers around
here will appreciate it.
Imagine, Marshal and
the major turned rustler.
♪♪
♪♪
Come on, come on, hook him up.
I can't.
I don't want nothing
to do with a hanging.
You do it.
You're making a
mistake, Bardeen.
(gunshots)
- Ahh!
- Grab him!
I think maybe I winged him.
- You all right, Ben?
- Yes, I'm all right.
Look after the kid.
(moaning)
(panting)
Some pain for you to do this.
Just lie still.
Sorry.
They're both dead.
Bardeen?
Marshal's gone after him.
He shot me.
I know he did.
Shh.
It's not important.
Are you really a Major
and him a Marshal?
Yes.
Maybe I can get that bullet
out if I can just stop the bleeding.
I'm gonna die, Major.
Maybe not.
Are you still going
after Deeker?
You and the Marshal?
Just the two of you?
See, it's not really Deeker.
I have a son who's
joined up with him.
I wanna get him out of there
before he gets himself killed.
He's not much older than you.
Oh!
That Bardeen's gonna
be a lot of trouble.
How is he?
You know that map
Jack was starting to draw
with the stream and all?
- Yeah.
If you follow that stream
three, maybe four mile west.
Rough country but it'll
take you to Deeker's camp.
I hope you find him...
your son.
♪♪
♪♪
Well... morning, Lane.
What you been
doing, riding all night?
Is he inside?
As far as I know.
Does he ever et
remotely pleasant?
Only at disasters.
You think that'll get it?
Yeah, I think
they should get it.
Did you learn all
this in the army, Bill?
Yeah.
Be careful with
this, like I said.
Yeah, yeah.
How long were you in for?
Five years.
Must've been something
about it you liked.
How long you been
with the Captain?
Hmm... 'bout three year now.
You ever get into town much?
I mean, just to go, not
for no job or anything.
Well, we used to go some
but not for quite a while now.
Captain says it's too dangerous.
Anybody ever up and quit?
First few weeks, I got
kind of nervous, too.
But you'll get used to it.
Don't even talk about quitting.
Don't even think it.
I'm telling you as a friend.
You're a good man.
Crown'd have more sense than
to come after me or even you
with just him and another man.
- Think they might've trailed you?
- No, not a chance.
If it was anybody but Crown,
he couldn't get close to
us without being spotted.
Give these to the guard.
How are things coming with
the gentle art of safe cracking?
Well know right now, Captain.
Clear.
(loud explosion)
The door ain't even open.
I don't know what happened.
You're telling me
you can't do it?
No, I'll be able to
do it, I'm just saying...
I'll give it another try.
Just get it open.
♪♪
Bardeen's alerted 'em.
Means we wait until dark.
Yeah, it could be
a long night, then.
Bill: Clear.
♪♪
That's more like it, Mason.
Will you look at that?
It's a hard-boiled egg, and
apple and a ham sandwich.
Looks like we stole
somebody's lunch.
You think it's
funny, huh, Mason?
We risk our lives and break
our backs to get this thing up here
and you think because
it's empty, it's funny, huh?
Well, yes, sir, a little.
Well, after you've
been with me for a while,
you'll find less to laugh about.
This ain't a game we're playing.
♪♪
♪♪
Ah!
Ah!
Can you move it?
I... I don't think it's broken.
No, it's no use.
Well, do you think you can
make it back to the horses?
Yeah, here, I can make it.
Okay, now if we're
not back in an hour,
you gotta ride in for some help.
Good luck.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
It's only me.
I'm gonna take you
back up that mountain.
Are you gonna go peacefully?
All right.
Slow and easy.
♪♪
Bardeen, Cully!
♪♪
(gunfire)
Hold it, hold it!
Anyone else missing?
No, just Mason.
Who's the man with him?
I don't know,
George, it looked like...
the Marshal to me.
- Told you that kid was probably...
- Never mind what you told me.
They'll be heading
back to Cimarron.
Get the horses.
♪♪
You all right?
So far, so good...
How about you?
Rotten.
Look after him, see
what you can do.
I'm gonna go get the horses.
Swollen pretty bad.
Make it tight.
They spotted you, huh?
I kicked a rock loose.
I'm glad to be out of there.
I appreciate you and the
Marshal helping me, sir.
Bill, I can fix it so you're
not charged with desertion.
Just A-W-O-L.
That's if you
return voluntarily.
But you'll still have to pay for
all the civil crimes you committed.
I expect to, sir.
It's better than being dead.
That's what you'd be if
you'd stayed with Deeker.
Coming back here and cleaning
him and his gang out of here.
Come on, Ben, we
got a lot of riding to do.
♪♪
(whistling)
(gunshot)
You go on back to the fort.
I'm gonna look for him.
Get Captain Bragg out
here with his troopers.
♪♪
(whistling)
(distant whistling)
Ben!
Have you been hit?
No, they got my
horse... Where's Bill?
He went for help.
I'm gonna go find him.
I want that Deeker
and I want him bad.
If I can nail him, maybe
the rest of them will quit.
Here goes nothin'.
(crickets chirping)
George?
(gunshots)
George!
♪♪
Hey, Crown!
Come out in the open or the
Major gets a hole in his head!
On your feet.
Bardeen: Hey, Crown, look here!
(whistling)
♪♪
That'll do nicely.
Drop your gun
right where you are.
(gun thudding)
It's been a lot of
years, hasn't it, Jim?
You've been lucky.
Let me have him, George.
(horse approaching)
He got away, Captain.
Deeker, come morning...
the army will be
well on its way.
Save yourself a lot of trouble
by turning us loose now.
Maybe.
Maybe the army's coming.
Yeah, the army's
coming, Mason'll bring 'em.
When they get here, all they're
gonna find is a couple corpses
because we're
gonna be long gone.
Wait a minute,
Lane, wait a minute.
Just because Jim here says the
army's coming don't make it so.
What about Mason,
he ran, didn't he?
Sure, he did.
And so would I with enough
people shooting at me.
Now if you're right, Jim,
you and the Major here will be a
pretty good piece of trading material.
And if the soldier
boys catch up with us
we'll have something
to bargain with.
Tie 'em up.
♪♪
Ah, cheer up.
Eh... I still think we'd be
better off killing and running.
I'm tired of running.
Personally, I don't think we'll
see the Calvary or anyone else.
And if we don't, he's all yours.
(whistling)
♪♪
Oh, good.
Gettin' on for 9:00, George.
Well, we'll give it a
couple of hours, anyway.
(sniffling)
(whistling)
It's Mason!
(horse galloping)
You missed all the excitement.
Where you been?
Prisoner.
I came as soon
as I could get loose.
You're gonna have to prove that.
Bill: Why isn't my
word good enough?
Bardeen: Not this
time, soldier boy.
Well, all right, I'll prove it.
And then I'm gonna cave
in that ugly face of yours.
I'll make him
apologize if he's wrong.
Well, the Marshal
came 'round to my tent.
He woke me up,
stuck a gun in my ear
and marched me up that cliff...
I don't know who was on guard.
- McCloud.
- Yeah, that's right.
I kicked a stone, I know
somebody heard that
'cause there was
a lot of shooting.
Kidnapped you, huh?
Why?
They said they'd
clear me of desertion
if I could identify all
the men in the outfit.
They know about you
but not about the others.
When I said, "No,"
they tied me up.
Said they'd... beat
it out of me later.
Look here.
You could've made Fort Supply
and been halfway back
here by now if you wanted to.
Yeah.
Yeah, I believe you.
Lane?
All right.
I'm sorry, kid.
Where's my gun,
still in my tent?
Thanks.
(sniffling)
(metal cup clanking)
There's no need to hold anyone
for bargaining anymore, is there?
Well, not anymore.
But I still think they ought
to be worth something.
Gold army braid
and a U.S. Marshal.
(chuckling)
First time I seen
you smile in a month.
(laughing)
Now don't mess it up.
Take 'em a long ways away.
And bury 'em, you hear?
I'll give you a hand, too.
Forget it.
I owe 'em a little something.
Cully!
(door closing)
On your feet, Crown.
I said, "On your feet!"
Ben and me, we
were just getting cozy.
Marshal.
I want out of this place.
I'll help you if I can.
It's your move.
(gun uncocking)
George!
George!
I'm gonna let you
walk out of this shack.
But you tell Deeker
that you're dead
unless he turns us loose.
Turn it over!
George, they're gonna kill
me if you don't let 'em go.
Easy, boys.
George?
(gun cocking)
George?
(gunshot)
Wanna make any
more deals, Crown?
We're gonna settle
down here, boys.
I'd say for about 48 hours.
Just long enough for
'em to get real thirsty.
(gunshot)
(gunfire)
Does it make you
feel like a rat in a trap?
Sitting on all this dynamite.
Mason, why don't you
see what we've got.
- Ben?
- Yeah.
Do you think we can
use this pipe as a mortar?
We can give it a try.
Help me yank these boards off.
Easy, boys, easy!
Just one at a time.
(gunshot)
♪♪
Jim: Are you ready, Ben?
Ben: I'm ready.
We're not gonna have much
time to spread some distance
between him and us.
Okay.
God willing.
See y'all back at
Cimarron for breakfast.
♪♪
(gunfire)
♪♪
♪♪
Bill, you're as
free as a jaybird.
At least as far
as I'm concerned.
How come?
The territorial governor told me
that I can't keep you in jail any longer.
He was so delighted to
get rid of the Deeker gang
that he decided to
give you a pardon.
So Major...
that'll leave him all to you.
How serviceable
is that arm, soldier?
It's just fine for
peeling potatoes, sir.
Sergeant...
30 days company
punishment for this man.
And the charge
on the record will be
absent without official leave.
Thank you very much...
Major.
You're welcome, Bill.
♪♪
You hear that, Jim, what
he almost called me?
Yes, I did.
Give him a little
more time and he will.
♪♪
♪♪